The latest Ramcharan Teja starrer in Telugu, "Vinaya Vidheya Rama" (VVR), which opened on Pongal all across Andhra Pradesh, is a deeply offensive film on every possible level. It insults the female sex by lewdly objectifying the heroine Kiara Advani.

It also insults the audiences? basic intelligence by taking the most outrageous liberties with time and space. To give an early indication of the film?s topographical tyranny, in one sequence, the film?s super-duper-hero Rama crashes out of an airport?s check-in lounge, jumps on a speeding train-top from Gujarat which takes him to Bihar to save his brother.

Don?t ask how Rama is able to time his furious travel plan with the Bihar train timings. I think it was Dharmendra who first balanced himself on a speeding train roof to avenge the wrongs done to his onscreen family in "Yaadon Ki Baaraat". If he saw Ramcharan Teja?s loco-motivated homage to that old spirit of dada-giri Dharam Paaji style, Dharmendra would probably regret the day he agreed to travel ticketless.

There are many other absolutely unacceptable leaps of imagination in VVR that boggle the mind and do a great disservice to progressive cinema all across India.

As a Bihari, my biggest grouse against "Vinaya Vidheya Rama" is in the way Bihar and Biharis are shown as scruffy, sleazy, murderous bandits and outlaws. For years, filmmakers and actors in the South have complained about the way Hindi cinema depicts South Indians in a stereotypical ?Lungi Dance? avatar. In fact in the NTR biopic that opened this week, NTR (Balakrishna) is seen haranguing Mrs Indira Gandhi for referring to South Indians as ?Madrasis'.

I wonder what NTR would have to say about Ramcharan Teja?s licentious lies regarding Bihar and Biharis. For one, the film?s main villain, Raja Bhai played by Vivek Oberoi, is shown to be a Bihari running his own army in "Bihar"?or what passes off as Bihar in this madly confounded film which knows neither its history or geography well enough to make the narrative half-way coherent.

Raja Babu is shown to bully the Bihar Chief Minister, Mahesh Manjrekar, into perpetrating the worst havoc imaginable. The tyranny gets acutely unbearable when Raja Babu kidnaps the Election Commissioner and makes him dance in public wearing ghungroos(anklets) on his feet to humiliate him.

I really didn'?t get that one. Why would a dance in ghungroos be such an act of humiliation for a decent man whose nose the villain wants to rub in the ground? There are so many renowned much respected Kathak and Bharat Natyam dancers in India. Kamal Haasan and Birju Maharaja are names that come to mind.

This crass film moves forward on the strength of its own perverse definition of machismo and virility. The hero is shown literally beating up an army of ?Bihari? goons (all armed with guns, machets and other weapons) as the soundtrack emblasons his heroics with sounds that suggest a siren call for absolute anarchy.

My quibble with the film?s crass conflicts are with its ?Bihar? connections. The hinterland is replete with sandscapes and horses and outlaws who look like they are earning extra money by sneaking out of a Ram Gopal Verma action film and is no part of any Bihar that I know.

Why are Biharis considered to be so thick-skinned as to silently accept being portrayed as the worst scum of the earth? Isn?t that the image that chauvinistic political parties in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh favour in order to put migrants from UP and Bihar in place, namely back to their home states? And now, depicting Biharis as lumpen elements is taken to the next level. The hero must travel to Bihar(from Gujarat, on a speeding train upon which he jumps on from above) to rescue his Telugu family from North Indian pseudo-Maoists.

Family members and leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founded by N.T. Rama Rao remembered him on his 23rd death anniversary on Friday.

Popularly called NTR, the former Chief Minister, was an actor-turned-politician and one of the most popular leaders in the history of undivided Andhra Pradesh.

NTR's son and popular actor N. Balakrishna, daughter N. Bhuvaneswari, grandsons and actors Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram and others paid rich tributes to the late leader at NTR Ghat on the banks of the Hussain Sagar lake here.

Balakrishna, who played NTR in the just released biopic "Mahanaaikudu", was accompanied by the film's director Krish. Speaking on the occasion, the actor said NTR would always remain in the hearts of the Telugu people.

He also garlanded the statue of NTR in Begumpet area and flagged off the NTR Amar Jyothi rally. Balakrishna recalled the steps taken by NTR for the welfare of the backward and weaker sections of society.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is NTR's son-in-law, also remembered the veteran leader.

During a teleconference with TDP leaders in Amaravati on Friday, Naidu said NTR continued to be an inspiration for the young generation. Terming NTR as the pioneer of welfare schemes, Naidu said poverty alleviation would be the best tribute to the late leader.

The Chief Minister also called upon the TDP cadres to rededicate themselves to the ideals of NTR by serving the people. He later left for Guntur district, where he will unveil a 36 feet tall statue of NTR.

NTR died of cardiac arrest in 1996, a few months after Naidu ousted him from power in view of the alleged growing interference by his second wife Lakshmi Parvathi in the party and the administration.

NTR, a popular Telugu actor, had launched the TDP in 1982 with the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created a record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of the Congress.

After working successfully in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, Simran Bagga is back and plays Rajinikanths love interest in his new blockbuster "Petta". The 42-year-old actress, who has two children, looks stunning and says it is rare getting a glamorous role at her age.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Firstly, I want to know how you have managed to not age by even a day in the 15 years I've known you?

A. (Laughs) I am just trying to eat, sleep and live well. It's more about feeling good than looking good. It's not easy after two children. After my second child, I had to lose a lot of weight. It wasn't easy. But once you decide you need to look after yourself -- not to look good but to be healthy -- it becomes easier.

Q. What was it like working with Rajinikanth for the first time?

A. He is a such a simple, humble, down-to-earth person. He is my superhero. To me, he came before the concept of the superheroes like Iron Man and Spider-Man was incepted. I am so glad I could work with him.

Q. Would you say "Petta" is your comeback film ?

A. It is definitely a comeback of sorts. It is my first film with the Thalaiva and therefore, it's a big deal for me. And when people are saying I have a better written role in 'Petta' than Rajini sir's heroines usually have, I am even happier. Audiences are happy that Simran (she slips into the third person) is seen with the Thalaiva for the first time and they look so good together. I may not have much footage in the story, but it is rare for an actress my age to be given such glamorous role.

Q. Yes, it is very rare for a heroine in a Rajinikanth film to have anything to do except idolise him. It is even rare for a heroine to be shown a mother to a grown up child and still have a life of her own. Would you agree with that?

A. Are you asking me if I agree it is difficult for an actress to play the heroine after she is a mother?

Q. No, I am asking if characters are written for heroines where they have the liberty to have a life of their own even after having children?

A. Yes, that is rare. And my character of a 40-plus and single mother is not something an Indian actress gets to play every day. I wanted my first film with Rajini sir to be special. In 'Petta', I will give full marks to director Karthik Subbaraj for presenting me well despite limited footage.

The romantic angle between Rajini sir and me has been so well-handled. I'd say the relationship comes across as ageless because of Rajini sir's aura. It doesn't matter whether he is in his 60s and I am in my 40s. It is only the beauty of their compatibility that shines through. Looking at the film as a member of the audience, I liked seeing this pair.

Q. Audiences wanted to see more of you in "Petta"?

A. Even I wanted more of me in the film. But in a 2 hour 50 minute long film, there is so much to say. I am glad I got my space.

Q. Would you say Indian cinema is not a comfortable place for actresses above 40 specially those who are married and have children?

A. Being a wife or a mother or 40 should not be the criteria for a heroine to get a role. I am very proud to be a wife and mother. It is an essential part of being a woman as far as I'm concerned, but these roles must not define my professional decisions. Of course, I have major responsibilities beyond my profession now. But it becomes easier to balance one's personal responsibilities with one's profession when you have a supportive family.

I feel I've the freedom to do what I want to do, play the roles I want to play. There's no burning compulsion to be in front of the camera after so many years in the profession. If I like a role, I'll do it. Yes, I may make the wrong career decisions here and there. But I am not afraid to fail. Nor am I apprehensive about being a mother."

Popular Tamil actor-producer Vishal Krishna on Wednesday revealed that he is all set to enter wedlock and he described it as the next big transition in life.

The 38-year-old star is all set to marry Anisha Alla Reddy, a small-time actress who has appeared in Telugu films like "Pellichoopulu" and "Arjun Reddy".

"Yes. Happy. Too happy. Her name is Anisha Alla. And yes, she said 'yes'. And it's confirmed. My next biggest transition in life. Will be announcing the date soon," Vishal tweeted on Wednesday.

Vishal also shared two pictures with Anisha.

On her Instagram page, Anisha wrote: "I finally found somebody to go down the path of life with, loving him and life with true passion. I look up to this man for all that he stands for and for all of his heart."

"I vow to give back to him, the families and the people around with this step forward. I vow to be the best that I can be intention towards collective learning, love and moral value," she added.

If the industry grapevine is anything to go by, the wedding is set to take place in March.

Currently busy shooting for Tamil actioner "Ayogya", a remake of Telugu film "Temper"; Vishal is expected to take a break upon completing this project.

Actress Priya Prakash Warrier, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film "Sridevi Bungalow", says she wanted to become a part of Rohit Shetty's "Simmba" along with Ranveer Singh.

Priya interacted with the media at the trailer launch of ‘Sridevi Bungalow' here on Sunday.

Popular as the 'wink girl', Priya became an overnight sensation with her expressions in the teaser song "Manikya Malaraya Poovi" from her Malayalam movie "Oru Aadar Love".

Soon after, she was linked to many movies and projects. Her name was associated with Ranveer Singh starrer "Simmba" too. But Sara Ali Khan was finally cast as the lead actress in the film, which is breaking box office records.

When asked which Hindi film she wanted to do in recent times, she said: "I wanted to become a part of ‘Simmba'. There were lots of rumours that I was part of ‘Simmba' but I wish that was true because I am a great fan of Ranveer Singh.

"At the screening of ‘Uri', I told Ranveer that ‘I am a big fan of yours' and then he told me that ‘I really liked your wink' which was overwhelming for me."

Last week, Priya attended a special screening of "Uri - The Surgical Strike". It was attended by Hrithik Roshan, Varun Dhawan, Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty and Katrina Kaif.

How was her meeting with these Bollywood stars?

"It was the very first time that I was meeting all these people, so it was very new to me. I had a really great time watching ‘Uri'. It's a really nice movie.

"It was very sweet of Vicky Kaushal to invite me at the screening of his film. I got to talk to many people and they were really sweet and welcoming to me, so it was an overwhelming feeling to be there."

Now that Priya is entering Bollywood, is she ready to compete with names like Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara and Janhvi Kapoor in the Hindi film world.

She said: "First of all, I think they are all very senior actors and they are doing their work very well. I just want to do my thing and create a space for myself in this industry. People know me as a wink girl but what I want is that people accept me as an actress as a whole and not just about a wink."

In what seems like an unwanted political intrusion in an out-and-out formulistic entertainer, Vijay Sethupathi—who has a pivotal role to play in propelling the plot forward—is attacked in a cowshed by goons who accuse him of being a beef carrier.

Well, to be honest, Sethupathi does have quite a beefy role. In fact it's the most powerfully written secondary part I've seen in any recent Rajinikanth starrer. Seethupathi plays Jeetu, a sleazy hitman in Uttar Pradesh who ends up being horribly confused about his parentage. In fact the script turns his parentage into a bit of a savage joke.

But director Karthik Subbaraj knows when to pull back the punches. He lets the 3-hour marathon masala fare roll on like a steamroller that knows exactly how to run its course without plundering any of the tropes in a Rajinikanth starrer. Petta is a film that satiates both the Rajini devotees and the non-devotees. While it harks back to his most famous screen avatars it gives a fresh fecund flavourful twist to every manoeuvre that brings the plot closer to its nemesis.

To begin with Rajini is a boisterous hostel warden who plays Uncle Cupid to a young couple. While aiding the courtship Rajini falls in love with a spiritual hero(Simran, looking lovely).This part of the film is light to the touch, frothy and tantalizing in a cute kind of way.

In the second half the plot simply takes off, creating a badland of bloodshed and retribution where bullets and bombs pelt down in a devastating tale of caste and communal wars. The clannish violence is cannily constructed to highlight Rajinikanth's stage-capturing image. He has never looked so young in the past decade. He performs the action sequences and the dances with a disarming relish and his character doesn't shy away from killing the enemies.

It all adds up to a visually rich drama replete with twists and turns that are not only unforeseen but also deftly written to accentuate Rajinikanth's image. And yes, Nawazuddin Siddiqui makes a formidable adversary . The confrontations between the two leading to a bloodied finale leaves no room for the audiences to exhale.

When was the last time I had so much fun watching a Rajinikanth film? The last few years topped by the appalling 2:0 last month have been pretty abysmal . Pehaps the Thalaiva, as he's called by his devotees, had begun to take himself too seriously in his recent films.

In Petta Rajini doesn't allow his swagger to be weighed down by responsibilities. A genuine sense of fun runs through the taut plot. Except for a few stretches where the director seems to lose grip(for instance the early scenes in the hostel are way too flighty ) this tale of a father-figure fighting to save a young boy (Sananth Sethi) from murderous enemies is just what the Rajinikanth image needed at this juncture.

Filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj, who wears his Rajinikanth fandom on his sleeve, says he is proud to have directed Tamil actioner "Petta" as a die-hard superstar Rajinikanth fanboy.

Having made a mark with films such as "Pizza", "Jigarthanda" and "Iraivi", Subbaraj has joined hands with Rajinikanth for the first time in "Petta", which released today in Tamil, with the Hindi version set to release on January 11.

The film has been extensively shot in Uttar Pradesh, in places like Varanasi and Lucknow.

Every promo of "Petta" so far has clearly indicated that it's a film made by a true-blue Rajinikanth fan, one who wants to pay rich tribute to the superstar of 1990s.

"I grew up idolising Rajinikanth and I've always wanted to see him in a certain way. When I knew I was going to write for Rajini sir, I wanted to show him in the most stylish way and bring back his mannerisms and machismo," Subbaraj told IANS.

While there's no denying "Petta" will be Subbaraj's love letter to his matinee idol, he points out that it will have a healthy mix of his sensibilities and popular Rajinikanth tropes.

"The film has a mix of both our sensibilities. Rajini sir gave me an opportunity to work with him because he liked my work, especially my style of narration and dialogues. Now, I can't go out and make something very different just to please him. He wanted me to make 'Petta' the way I want it and with my sensibilities intact," he said, adding that the film also has everything a Rajinikanth fan wants to see.

If the promos are anything to go by, one can be assured that Rajinikanth's fans are in for a treat. Subbaraj says audiences will see a happier, chirpier version of Rajinikanth as Kaali, in the role of a hostel warden.

Asked if he tried to consciously break Rajinikanth's recent stint of dark characters, Subbaraj said: "As stories, Rajini sir's recent films such as 'Kabali' and 'Kaala' were dark. Therefore, his characters were also dark. The story decides the nature of a character."

"When I thought of writing for Rajini sir, I told myself it will be a really cool character with a very happy-go-lucky attitude. We took such a character and placed him in a strong story and I believe, as a combination, it has worked wonders. Rajini sir thoroughly enjoyed doing comedy and romance," he added.

Subbaraj said the biggest challenge was not assembling the actors but to shoot with them in a very short span of time.

"Ever since the project was announced, time was our biggest constraint. When the project was announced in March 2018, it was already decided by the makers that the film will release for Pongal 2019. This meant that we had only 10 months of time and out of which we also had to allocate time for post-production," Subbaraj said.

Talking about roping in a huge star cast, he said: "I was very certain that I wanted to work with these actors. The fact that we had just 10 months to shoot did make me wonder if we could pull it off. Thankfully, the Rajinikanth factor attracted all the actors and they didn't want to miss the opportunity to work with him."

Subbaraj said all the actors have pivotal parts to play.

"The script demanded very strong characters. That's the reason why I approached actors like Vijay Sethupathi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who can literally play any character convincingly. Even when it comes to the women in the film, you will see them in very strong roles," he said.

Recalling the experience of working with Rajinikanth, Subbaraj said he will treasure the time he spent with him on the sets.

"Personally, the biggest takeaway for me from the project is the time I spent with Rajini sir. It was fascinating to see him in action. He still works with the kind of passion we see in up-and-coming actors who have to prove themselves. Importantly, Rajini sir doesn't take his fans and audiences for granted."

Karthik Subbaraj, director of Tamil film "Petta", was confident that Hindi film actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui could pull off a South Indian character in the Rajinikanth-starrer.

A Rajinikanth fan, Subbaraj also loves Nawazuddin's body of work and versatility. "Petta" will release in Tamil on Thursday, and its Hindi dubbed version will hit the screens a day later.

The director's face lit up when asked about Nawazuddin.

"I am a big fan of his. According to me, he looks South Indian. I was confident he could pull off a South Indian character," Subbaraj said.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Just hours away from release... Are you nervous?

A. Yeah, now that it's finally happening, I am nervous and anxious. It's very mixed feelings. But for me the most important thing right now is to go watch the film with the audience. I've to join Rajini sir's fans in th theatres because I will be watching 'Petta' not as a filmmaker, but a fan.

Q. Will you be watching it first day first show?

A. I watch all his films the first day. Now I will be watching my own film with Rajini sir. It's unbelievable. I will be watching it the entire day on Thursday (on release). I've watched it a hundred times during editing. Now I want to see what the reaction would be to specific shots and dialogues. I just want to see the audiences' reaction. This is the moment I've been waiting for. For me, this is like a dream come true... When I started making films, my first wish was to show them to Rajini sir. By God's grace, I've been able to go far beyond my dream.

Q. Has he seen your previous films?

A. Yes, he saw my first film "Pizza" and called me to say he liked it. Then he saw "Jigarthanda". After that, we met. When he expressed his appreciation for my work, I gained the confidence to be able to make a film with him. Three years back, I pitched the script for 'Petta' to him. He liked the script. And he said he will work in my film. But we didn't agree on a time frame.

Q. What did you think of Rajinikanth as an actor?

A. Dedicated, inspiring, exceptional and so sincere. His self discipline is motivational. He prepares for every scene. If it's an important scene, he begins to make inquiries from a day before. He is so involved. It's amazing.

Q. Has he done his own action scenes?

A. Yes, he has done all the stunts. And he has some very elaborate dancing to do. You have to see his energy level. I felt he was younger than me. "Petta" is a proper masala entertainer, the kind Rajini sir's fans enjoy the most. There's no politics in this film at all. This time he is only an entertainer.

Q. You have two established heroines -- Trisha and Simran -- in "Petta". Do they have enough to do?

A. They have well-established characters to play. But "Petta" is obviously not about them. It is Rajini sir's film. But the heroines are no props. They move the story forward. Also, I wanted the heroines to look well matched with Rajini sir.

Q. Finally, Nawazuddin?

(lights up) I am a big fan of his. According to me, he looks South Indian. I was confident he could pull off a South Indian character. He was worried about the Tamil lines. He put in a lot of effort to say his Tamil lines with feeling. But he hasn't dubbed his own lines in the Tamil version. But you can see in his performance that he understands his lines.

Actor Varun Tej has confirmed that he has been approached with the offer to star in the yet-untitled Telugu remake of Tamil film "Jigarthanda".

Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, the 2014 gangster thriller "Jigarthanda" revolves around a gangster and a filmmaker and what happens when their lives cross paths.

While Siddharth played the aspiring filmmaker, Bobby Simhaa played the dreaded gangster.

Varun Tej has been approached with an offer to essay Simhaa's role. Harish Shankar will direct the remake.

"It's true that the makers have approached me with an offer but I haven't officially signed on the dotted line yet. I'm really considering the offer because it's a film I really liked. I should be taking a call very soon," Varun told IANS.

Seen playing an astronaut in his last Telugu release "Antariksham", Varun is eagerly looking forward to the release of Telugu comedy "F2" this week.

The film has Varun sharing screen space with actor Venkatesh for the first time.

Talking about the experience of working alongside Venkatesh, he said: "I didn't expect him to be so cool. We had so much fun shooting, and I think the experience helped me to get better at comedy. I've acquired great comic skills now."